Pictures and text for this page have been graciously provided
by Sandy, dfsgal@aol.com, who lives
in Dumfries, Scotland. He also has a page that deals with the history
and local architecture of Dumfries, which may be seen at http://members.aol.com/dfsgal/town.htm.

William Colvin of Craigielands, Beattock,
Scotland, built a fountain in the middle of the town of Moffat (about 2
miles away) in 1875. The architect of the fountain is listed as Mr Brodie
of Edinburgh.

It isn't a fountain in the traditional sense with
water spurting in the air. Spring water flows (at least it did once
upon a time) from pipes in the side of the hillside into polished granite
half basins. The fountain probably had an iron cup on a chain at each basin
to use as a drinking vessel.

I have seen similar arrangements for providing drinking
fountains in public places in other towns around Scotland. It often
has something to do with the commemoration of the end of the cholera epidemics
of the early and middle 19th century and the supply of fresh, clean drinking
water. Have yet to find out the particular significance of this monument.
Most of them fell out of use and now exist only as monuments. Kircudbright,
Creetown and Gatehouse of Fleet all had them.
It's just as well they're now all dry because these
well-intentioned Victorians used lead pipes without knowing they were exposing
the population to new dangers by introducing them to another harmful product.
[As Sandy says, "It's has always been safer drinking Scotch beer and or
Scotch whisky." -Ed.]
This scene from a postcard is obviously very early...

Moffat was very busy with the start of the tourist
season. At first, I couldn't get a decent shot of the fountain because
of a big camper (I think you call them trailer homes?), which was parked
next to it. (next)